Heidelberg Catechism, Question 26
Question 26
What believest thou when thou sayest “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth?
That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1;3), who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them (Heb. 11;3); who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence (Eph. 1;11); is, for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father (John 20;17); on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but that he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body (1 Pet. 5;7); and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage (Rom. 8;28); for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father (Ps. 103;13).
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Ephesians 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
1 John 4:1414And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
John 17:11When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.
Hebrews 11:33By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Genesis 1:11In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Jeremiah 32:1717“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
Acts 4:2424When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Ephesians 1:1111In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
Hebrews 1:33The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Psalms 148:1-61Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places.
2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
3Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
4Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies.
5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.
6He established them forever and ever; He issued a decree that will never pass away.
Psalms 103:1919The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Nehemiah 9:66You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.
John 20:1717“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”
1 John 3:11Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Galatians 4:66And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:77So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
John 1:1212But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
1 Peter 5:77Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Matthew 6:2626Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Psalms 55:2222Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Luke 12:2222Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
1 Timothy 4:1010To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
Romans 8:2828And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Hebrews 12:9-119Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
2 Corinthians 4:1717For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
Psalms 103:1313As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Matthew 7:1111So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Isaiah 49:1515“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
Isaiah 49:1616Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.
Psalms 115:33Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
Psalms 136:55By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
Source and edition
Heidelberg Catechism. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879
Public Domain (historic text); CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription). Source transcription.
Transcription licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.
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